Combined case and cigar-tip cutter



w, A. HOL'GATE. COMBINED CASE AND CIGAR TIP CUTTER.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. 1, 1898.-

INVENTOH WITNESSES UNITED STATES).

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM .A. HOLGATE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

COMBINED. CASE AND ClG AR-TlP-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent llTo. 599,707, dated March 1, 18 98.

Application filed March 10, 1897.

To aZZ whom it may concern.- Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. HOLGATE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful-Improvements in a Combined Case and Cigar-Tip Cutter and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in match-boxes and cigar-cases,and particularly to that class of match-boxes and cigar-cases which in addition to carrying matches and cigars are provided with means for clipping the tips of cigars. c

It consists in the combination, with a suitable casing, of a plate adapted to be inserted in said casing, so as to form a compartment within the same for holding matches, and a separate compartment carrying mechanism for clipping the ends of cigars and means connected 'withthe cover 'for operating said cigar-cutting mechanism.

It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

sents a vertical sectional view through-the match-compartment, the cover of the box being thrown back and parts of the clipping mechanism shown in dotted lines. Fig. 4 represents a transverse vertical section through the matchbox, and Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of the match-box with the cover thrown back.

In thedrawings, A represents a suitable casing, preferably constructed of metal and having its upper end closedby a hinged cover A, connected thereto by a hinge on at the rear edge of the casing. The cigar-tip clipping mechanism is mounted upon a plate 13, adapt- Serial No. 626 ,866. (No model.)

b, which extends nearly the full width of the plate, but leaving at one end an opening through which the knife-operating means secured to the cover is adapted to extend, as will be hereinafter more fully described. Pivoted to the plate 13 is the knife-lever b provided with an angular arm 19 atitsupper end and a knife-edge b at its lower end. As shown in Fig. 1, the lever b may be actuated by a flat spring 6 secured at its upper end to a stud upon the plate B and held against the lever 19 by another stud or pin b. As shown in Fig. 2, the flat spring may be dispensed With and a coil-spring b may be used to actuate the lever 11 without departing from the spirit of my invention. The movement of the lever 19 is limited in one direction by a stud b mounted on the plate B. The plate B is provided at its lower end with a pendent extension carrying a spring-plate 6 which is provided with a catch or engaging lug 6 The catch b is adapted to engage a projection 12 upon the lower end of the knife-lever to hold it in its set position, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Opposite the end of the spring-plate b a perforation or hole a is formed in the casing.

When it is desired toclip the end of a cigar, it isonly necessary to insert it in the aperture a sufficiently far to force the spring plateb inwardly. This releases the projection b from the catch Z1 and the spring is free to force the knife-lever to its farthest extremity. The knife-blade travels across the aperture a and cuts off the inserted end of the cigar, and the aperture (1 is formed in the caso casing immediately beneath the aperture a in the side, so that the cigar-clippings may fall out of the casing and prevent the same from becoming clogged. In order to set the knifelever again, it is only necessary to close the 5 match-box, when the lever b will beforced backward to its set position by mechanism upon the said cover. This mechanism con sists of a spring-arm a riveted to the inside of the cover and carrying a dog a upon its free end. 'When the cover A is closed, the dog a extends into the compartment occupied by the cigar-tip-cli pping mechanism, its lower end engaging the projection b upon the knife-lever b and forcing it inward until the said lever is caught by the catch 11 In order not to disturb the set of the lever in opening the box, the dog a is provided with a bevel edge, as a, so that when the cover is thrown open the dog will be sprung to one side and not move the lever b The matchcompartment is preferably formed between the plate 13 and one side of the casing. The lower boundary of this compartment is preferably formed by a fiat spring C, which also extends upwardly at each end to the top of the casin g A, the end a being bent rearwardly, so as to exert a constant pressure upon the cover when closed, so as to force the same open when it is released. The other end, 0, is bent forward to form a catch to engage a corresponding catch a upon the cover for holding it in its closed position. The spring 0 is also provided near one end with a stud c projecting through the casing, by which the catch 0 may be forced inwardly in order to release the cover when it is desired to take a match from the box.

It will be apparent from the above description that my box might be readily adapted for carrying cigars instead of matches, it being merely necessary to make it upon a little larger scale. By my simple construction I am enabled to produce a compact and effective combined match-box and cigar-tip clipper which can be easily carried about in the pocket and is ready for use at any time.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a match-box, the combination with a suitable box having a hole to receive the tips of cigars, of a plate therein forming a compartment for holding the matches, in one side of said box and a separate compartment for carrying mechanism for clipping the tips of cigars in the other side, means connected with the cover for setting the cigar-tip-clipping mechanism, the construction being such that the said tip-clipping mechanism is adapted to be tripped by the insertion of the tip of a cigar, substantially as described.

2. In a matclrbox, the combination with a suitable casing having a hole to receive the tip of a cigar, of a plate or partition mounted therein and dividing the said easing into two compartments, mechanism in one of said compartments for clipping the tips of cigars, means in the other compartment for controlling the cover of the match-box, the construction of the said tip-clippin g mechanism being such that it is adapted to be tripped by the insertion of the tip of a cigar, substantially as described.

3. In a match-box, the combination with a casing having an opening to receive the tip of a cigar and another opening for the discharge of clippings, of a plate mounted in said casing, a knife-lever pivotally mounted on said plate, a spring for actuating the same, means for setting the knife-lever, means for holding it in the set position, and a cover for said box, the construction and arrangement being such that the said knife-leveris adapted to be tripped by the insertion of the tip of a cigar and the tip thereby clipped off, and reset upon closing the cover, substantially as described.

4. In a match or other box, the combination of an outer casing for holding matches or cigars, said casingbeing provided with an opening for the insertion of a tip of a cigar and also-an opening for the discharge of clippings, a knife-lever pivoted in said casing which is provided with engaging means,a horizontallymoving spring-plate carrying an engaging catch or lug and arranged back of and in line with the opening provided for the insertion of the tip of a cigar, said catch being adapted to engage the lower end of. the knife-lever and hold it in a set position, and a cover on said box provided with means for setting the knife-lever, substantially as described.

5. A match-box having a hole to receive the tip of a cigar, a knife lever pivotally mounted therein, a spring for actuating the same, a cover hinged to said casing, and a spring-dog secured to said cover adapted to engage the upper end of the knife-lever whereby the same is adapted to be set upon closing the cover and means for securing the knife in its set position, substantially as described.

6. In a match-box the combination with a casing provided with a hole to receive the tips of cigars, of a knife-lever pivotally mounted thereon, a spring for actuating the same, a cover hinged to the said casin g,a setting means mounted in said cover consisting of a spring secured to the cover at one end, the other end of said spring being free and carryinga dog, said dog being adapted to extend into the casing when the cover is closed and engage the upper end of knife-lever for setting the same, and retaining means for securing the knife-lever in its set position, substantially as described.

7. In a match-box the combination with a casing provided with a hole to receive the tips of cigars, of a knife-lever pivotally mounted thereon, a spring for actuating the same, a cover hinged to said casing, a setting means secured to said cover consisting of a spring carrying a dog at its free end, said dog being provided with a beveled edge whereby the lc ver may be set upon closing of the lever but will not be disturbed upon the opening thereof, and means for holding the knife-lever in its set position, substantially as described.

8. A match-box having a cover and provided with mechanism for clipping the tips of cigars, and means connected with the cover for In testimony whereof I affix my signature setting the cigar-tip-clipping mechanism, the in presence of two witnesses.

construction .and arran ement of the parts 7 being such that the cove r can be raised and WILLIAM HOLGATE' 5 lowered without the clipping mechanism be- Witnesses:

ing operated except to set the same, substan- JAMES T. WATSON,

tially as described. J NO. J EwswoLD, J r. 

